Nursing

RN to BSN: Requirements for Prospective Students

Written by: University of Tulsa • Jan 7, 2025

A nurse holds patient files while regarding the camera.

RN to BSN: Requirements for Prospective Students

In 2023, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) conducted its annual online survey of nursing schools offering Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees. Out of 643 responses, 25% said that hospitals and other health care employers in their area were requiring registered nurses (RN) to hold bachelor’s degrees for entry-level positions, and 69.8% expressed a strong preference for baccalaureate-educated RNs.

RNs who have not yet earned their BSN degrees may struggle to find stable employment, even in the midst of a national nursing shortage reported by McKinsey and Company in 2023. An RN to BSN degree program gives RNs the knowledge and skills they need to pursue in-demand roles and enjoy incredible job security.

What Is an RN to BSN Degree Program?

An RN to BSN degree program is designed for licensed RNs who have already earned an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and who wish to earn a BSN. Rather than participating in a traditional four-year program to earn a bachelor’s degree, RNs can instead build upon the skills and knowledge they gained during their ADN programs and work experience. A BSN is important because it provides advanced skills and knowledge that are not included in an ADN education.

These programs started in the 1970s in an effort to meet the need for more qualified, highly educated nurses. As the health care industry evolved, so too did the need for skilled, professional RNs.

Key Objectives for an RN to BSN Program

RN to BSN programs focus on six key objectives designed to help working nurses enhance and enrich their current knowledge. These objectives meet the RN to BSN requirements set forth by all states, and they include the following:

Advanced Clinical Knowledge: RN to BSN programs are designed to build on RNs’ existing clinical skills and knowledge of nursing theory, thereby improving patient outcomes.
Professional Development: BSN graduates develop a lifelong appreciation for learning, and many go on to pursue other areas of professional development to stay up to date with the latest trends in nursing and health care.
Communication: Better communication skills translate into better collaboration within health care teams and patients’ families and caregivers.
Research and Evidence-Based Practice: RN to BSN programs teach RNs how to incorporate research findings into their everyday practice, enhancing the delivery of evidence-based care.
Leadership and Management: Nurse leaders are in high demand, and an RN to BSN program can help RNs develop the skills they need to work as managers or supervisors.
Community and Public Health: RN to BSN programs have a strong focus on community and public health, often through preventative care.

Core RN to BSN Curriculum

RN to BSN programs are based on 30 major core credits of courses that fall within the nursing major, and most schools have an RN to BSN requirement for students to earn a grade of C or higher upon completion of each course. They include the following:

Pharmacology and Metrology: Pharmacology and metrology focuses on the way drugs interact with the body and teaches nurses how to properly dose and measure drugs for patient administration.
Health Assessment: This course teaches RNs how to effectively assess patients’ health. It covers topics like cultural competence, vital signs assessment, taking health histories, and physical examination techniques.
Theoretical Frameworks of Nursing: Theoretical Frameworks of Nursing is all about the various frameworks, models, and theories that guide the profession. Topics may include critical thinking, research and evidence-based practice, nursing theories, and metaparadigms.
Population Health: Population Health focuses on acknowledging and addressing the health of larger groups of people. It covers topics like epidemiology, health policy, program planning, and biostatistics.
Nursing Care of the Family: This course teaches RNs to provide holistic care to family members at every stage of life, from infancy through older adulthood. It covers topics such as crisis intervention, family assessment, resource coordination, health promotion, and others.
Healthcare Informatics: Healthcare Informatics focuses on using technology and data to improve health care, both in terms of delivery and efficiency. Some of the key components include data analytics, electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine, project management, and health data standards.
Nursing Leadership: Nursing science covers a wide range of topics like pathophysiology, nursing models, and ethics.
Quality Across Health Care Systems: This course focuses on improving the quality and safety of care at every stage of the health care process. It teaches concepts like quality improvement methods, patient safety, case studies, and health care metrics.
Capstone: A capstone project asks students to apply the knowledge they gain over the course of the RN to BSN program in a real-world setting. It shows students’ knowledge of practical nursing application, research, collaboration between disciplines, evidence-based practice, and presentation skills.

How Long Is an RN to BSN Program?

Although a traditional BSN program takes four years to complete, on average, an RN to BSN program is much shorter. As long as students meet all applicable RN to BSN requirements, they can complete the entire program online in as few as 12 months. It consists of 30 core credits, but some students may need to take additional elective courses, nursing foundation courses, and prerequisite courses in math and English based on their placement assessments.

BSN Requirements for Students

To enter an online or on-campus program, students must first meet all RN to BSN requirements set forth by the school they choose. Some of the most common requirements include the following:

Minimum GPA: Most RN to BSN programs require students to maintain a specific GPA, usually a 3.0 GPA. This ensures that students are learning everything they need to provide safe and effective patient care after graduating.
Prerequisite Coursework: Most nursing programs require students to complete prerequisite courses in areas like anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and microbiology.
Associate Degree in Nursing or Associate of Science in Nursing: RN to BSN students must have already earned an ADN or ASN.
Active and Unrestricted RN License: Students must have a valid, unencumbered RN license in their state.

The Benefits of an Accredited RN to BSN Program

Students have more RN to BSN programs available to them than ever before, but only 35 nationwide are accredited. When a nursing program is accredited by a major accrediting body, such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), it demonstrates the program’s quality. Furthermore, these bodies review accredited programs regularly, ensuring they still meet the applicable standards required to maintain accreditation.

Accreditation is crucial for several important reasons. Most federal student aid and scholarships only apply when students participate in accredited nursing programs, and most states will not license students who graduate from non-accredited programs, even if those programs meet all other BSN requirements.

Reasons to Choose an ACEN-Accredited Program

The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize ACEN as the accrediting body for all types of nursing programs, including undergraduate and graduate programs. This mark of approval has been protecting the quality of nursing education for more than 80 years. ACEN’s accreditation guidelines are built on rigorous standards, and schools that meet these guidelines demonstrate their commitment to educating future generations of nurses.

Professional and Career Outcomes for BSN Graduates

After earning a BSN degree, RNs have the potential to earn higher salaries. According to Payscale, the median salary for ADN graduates was about $78,000 annually as of September 2024. BSN graduates, on the other hand, earned a median annual salary of about $96,000 as of October 2024.

Due to the growing demand for baccalaureate-educated RNs, those who successfully complete RN to BSN programs have more job opportunities, particularly in leadership positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of medical and health services managers, including nurse managers, utilization management nurses, and unit managers, is projected to grow by 29% in the decade between 2023 and 2023, representing significant demand for these roles.

Registered Nurse

Many RNs who complete RN to BSN programs continue working as registered nurses throughout their careers. These individuals work in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and prisons, and there are always nursing positions available to baccalaureate-educated RNs.

According to the BLS, the employment of RNs is projected to grow by 6% between 2023 and 2033, representing about 194,500 new openings each year over the course of the decade. The median annual salary for registered nurses was $86,070 as of May 2023, with those working for the government earning significantly more at $99,840.

Nurse Writer

Nurse writers contribute to a variety of publications — newspapers, magazines, websites, and journals — on various health care topics. They gather, interpret, and present information in a way that is appropriate for their audiences, which may consist of doctors, nurses, patients with specific diagnoses, and others.

Nurses who work strictly as writers and authors earned a median annual salary of $73,690 in May 2023, and employment in the field is projected to grow by about 5% between 2023 and 2033, according to the BLS.

Nursing Manager

Nursing managers oversee all the nursing staff in a health care facility. They create schedules, influence and create nursing policies, conduct performance reviews, and make financial or budgetary decisions related to the nursing staff. They may also advocate for patients and staff, often serving as liaisons or mediators between nurses and upper management or between doctors and patients or caregivers.

Medical and health services managers, including nursing managers, earned a median annual salary of about $110,680 as of May 2023, according to the BLS. Those working in hospitals and for local, state, or federal government organizations earn slightly more. The profession is projected to grow by 29% between 2023 and 2033, per the BLS.

Utilization Management Nurse

Utilization management nurses, sometimes referred to as utilization review nurses, ensure that patients receive the highest-quality care possible. They compare a patient’s health with the care they have received to the guidelines that drive evidence-based care, looking for ways to improve. Utilization management nurses collaborate with health care providers, insurance companies, and other professionals to create effective and affordable care plans.

According to Payscale, utilization review nurses earned a median salary of about $76,760 per year as of October 2024, though this number can go up to more than $95,000 for the top earners in this position.

Nurse Case Manager

Nurse case managers are specialized RNs who work directly with patients who have chronic and recurring conditions to find the best possible options for their health. They often speak with specialists, insurance companies, patients, and their caregivers to ensure positive outcomes for their patients. They may coordinate hospitalizations and provide patients with resources for at-home care.

Nurse case managers earned a median salary of about $80,440 as of November 2024, according to data from Payscale. The top 10% of nurse case managers earned salaries of more than $99,000 per year.

Unit Manager

A unit manager is an experienced RN who supervises the nurses within an assigned unit. This may be a specific wing or floor of a hospital, or it may be a certain department, such as pediatrics or oncology. Aside from managing other RNs, these individuals may also direct certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

According to Payscale, unit managers earn a median annual salary of about $66,590 as of September 2024, with more experienced unit managers earning upward of $88,000.

Hospice Nurse

Hospice nurses care for patients at the end of their lives due to terminal illness or another diagnosis. Their ultimate goal is to ensure that patients are as comfortable as possible and that they have the best quality of life possible. They work as part of a team that includes doctors, specialists, home health aides, social workers, and spiritual counselors to provide personalized care and keep families updated on their loved one’s condition.

Hospice nurses earned a median annual salary of about $74,280 as of October 2024 per data from Payscale, with the top 10% of earners making more than $90,000.

Travel Nurse

Travel nurses perform all the same duties as an RN, but they do so by working short-term contracts or positions. They can work as local travel nurses in their own states and in other states. They also work in other countries as international travel nurses on a temporary basis. Travel nurses can join different nursing teams and fulfill the needed roles to ensure quality care. They may administer medications, treat patients, and oversee their colleagues — however, they will likely not have the same long-term patient relationships that their colleagues have.

According to Payscale, travel nurses earned an average annual salary of $84,070 as of October 2024. However, the top 10% of earners can make more than $116,000, also per Payscale.

Increase Your Opportunities by Completing an RN to BSN Program

Aspiring students who have already earned an ADN and who have valid, unencumbered RN licenses should consider participating in the University of Tulsa’s online RN to BSN program . Not only do BSN graduates have more job opportunities and higher salaries on average, but those who wish to continue their education get priority admission to our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.

A baccalaureate degree does not have to be out of reach due to scheduling conflicts or financial worries. Discover how you can take charge of your future with the University of Tulsa if you meet our RN to BSN requirements.

Recommended Readings

Nursing Manager: Salary and Job Description

What Is an Accredited Nursing Program?

Nursing Professional Development: Graduate Opportunities

Sources:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Why ACEN Accreditation

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, New Graduate Employment Data

Indeed, 12 Types of Nursing Jobs You Can Get With a BSN

McKinsey & Company, Nursing in 2023: How Hospitals Are Confronting Shortages

Nursing World, RN to BSN: Advancing Your Nursing Career

Payscale, Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Degree

Payscale, Average Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) Hourly Pay